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High profile head coach officially calls it quits, sites mental health issues for reasoning
Photo credit: sport.ch
Former Chicago Blackhawks Assistant Coach Marc Crawford has resigned from his position with the Swiss Hockey League's ZSC Lions due to mental health.
Former Chicago Blackhawks Assistant Coach Marc Crawford was with the team from 2019-2020 to the end of the 2020-2021 season.
Soon after the shortened season ended the former Stanley Cup-winning Coach, headed to Zurich, Switzerland to continue coaching hockey professionally.
Before leaving the NHL, he faced allegations of abuse throughout his time as a coach, revealed by former players:
Several former NHL players have willingly entered the conversation about an investigation into alleged physical abuse by Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach Marc Crawford. Others, such as Brent Sopel, have been thrown into it.
Sean Avery sparked the investigation when he claimed Crawford kicked him in the back in 2006 for causing a too many men on the ice penalty. Patrick O'Sullivan added, "I talked about his physical abuse in my book four years ago kicking me and others on the bench."
Sean Avery sparked the investigation when he claimed Crawford kicked him in the back in 2006 for causing a too many men on the ice penalty. Patrick O'Sullivan added, "I talked about his physical abuse in my book four years ago kicking me and others on the bench."
Now it appears he is ending his tenure in Zurich, after serving as Head Coach for a 2nd-stint which began in 2022-2023.
«It is with sincere gratitude and a lot of humility, that I announce that I am resigning immediately as the Head Coach of the ZSC Lions. For the last several months, I have been investing in intensive therapy with the hope of understanding the depths of my own mental health. This process has proven to be both challenging and revealing to me as a coach, a husband, a father, and an expecting grandfather and finally as a person.»
- Marc Crawford
- Marc Crawford
The news of his resignation arrives as the ZSC Lions, are at the head of the rankings, with a 22-5-2 record, and have lapped the Lausanne HC with a 21-8-3 record this season.
Crawford has seen the ZSC Lions through some unique experiences as bench boss, especially in 2012-2016 when he was bench boss while former 1st round pick Auston Matthews was playing for the club.
The former Stanley Cup-winning coach was a part of the Canucks organization during their "West Coast Express" era.
While his record as Canucks Head Coach is stellar, with 246 wins, only 67 wins shy of Alain Vigneault's 313.
Hockey is a family business for Crawford as his son Dylan is a video coach for the Canucks organization, under Rick Tocchet.
In addition to winning a Stanley Cup in 1996, he coached Team Canada at the Nagano Olympics in 1998.
Crawford was suspended from the Blackhawks organization during the 2019-2020 season due to allegations of verbal and physical abuse, involving Brent Sopel, and Harold Druken.
"Players like Sean Avery, Harold Druken, Patrick O'Sullivan and Brent Sopel have had the strength to publicly come forward and I am deeply sorry for hurting them. I offer my sincere apologies for my past behavior," Crawford said in a statement.
The controversy doesn't seem to end for Crawford though:
More recently, in February 2023, he was suspended for one game by the National League after allegedly making a homophobic remark toward a referee.
Crawford has a Jack Adams Award to his name from the 1994-1995 season, along with a 556-431-103 record in the NHL.
What is it you will remember Marc Crawford for?
Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 1 | 264 ANSWERS High profile head coach officially calls it quits, sites mental health issues for reasoning Do you think Coach Marc Crawford was what the Chicago Blackhawks needed during the 2019-2020 season? | ||
| Yes | 101 | 38.3 % |
| No | 163 | 61.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
